US4374198A - Rapid utilization of disaccearides by fermentation - Google Patents
Rapid utilization of disaccearides by fermentation Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US4374198A US4374198A US06/259,314 US25931481A US4374198A US 4374198 A US4374198 A US 4374198A US 25931481 A US25931481 A US 25931481A US 4374198 A US4374198 A US 4374198A
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- Prior art keywords
- sugar
- yeast
- ethanol
- fermentation
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
- C12P—FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIRED CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERS FROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE
- C12P7/00—Preparation of oxygen-containing organic compounds
- C12P7/02—Preparation of oxygen-containing organic compounds containing a hydroxy group
- C12P7/04—Preparation of oxygen-containing organic compounds containing a hydroxy group acyclic
- C12P7/06—Ethanol, i.e. non-beverage
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E50/00—Technologies for the production of fuel of non-fossil origin
- Y02E50/10—Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S435/00—Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology
- Y10S435/813—Continuous fermentation
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S435/00—Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology
- Y10S435/8215—Microorganisms
- Y10S435/911—Microorganisms using fungi
- Y10S435/94—Saccharomyces
- Y10S435/942—Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Definitions
- This invention relates to processes for the manufacture of ethanol by fermentation.
- the yeast in the last fermentation vessel can be recovered by suitable means, e.g., centrifugation or settlement, and recycled. It has been discovered that in such a system, the typically high concentrations of sugar which are present in the first fermentation vessel inhibit the growth and productivity of the yeast.
- a further drawback of conventional fermentation processes lies in their inability to effectively convert all or most of the sugar oligomers and repolymerizates to ethanol. Such oligomers and repolymerizates tend to resist conversion by yeasts which are commonly employed in known fermentation procedures. This disadvantage is particularly a problem when the sugar employed in the fermentation is derived from the acid hydrolysis of carbohydrate polymer, e.g., starch.
- an aqueous solution of fermentable sugar containing minor amounts of sugar oligomer and/or repolymerizate is continuously subjected to fermentation in a series of fermentation vessels in which the ethanol content of the fermentation medium is progressively increased as the sugar content of the fermentation medium is consumed by the yeast.
- At least two strains of yeast are selected for the fermentation, the first strain of yeast providing a relatively high rate of conversion of fermentable sugar to ethanol in a fermentation medium containing a concentration of fermentable sugar which does not significantly retard the rate of growth of the yeast, and the second strain of yeast providing a relatively high rate of conversion of the sugar oligomers and/or repolymerizates to ethanol.
- the process also contemplates the adjustment of temperature and/or pH in each fermentation vessel as required to maintain optimum fermentation activity therein. To conserve raw materials and direct yeast metabolic activity to the production of ethanol rather than cell growth and propagation, a portion of the yeast is continuously recycled and additional fresh yeast is added only as is necessary to replace dead cells.
- the aqueous ethanol or "beer” containing as much as about 12 weight percent ethanol which is obtained by the foregoing process can be concentrated employing any of the known and conventional techniques and is advantageously concentrated by the anhydrous distillation process disclosed in commonly assigned copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 043,189, filed May 29, 1979, entitled “Production of Anhydrous Alcohol", now U.S. Pat. No. 4,256,541.
- the stillage effluent obtained from the rectifying column employed in the aforesaid anhydrous distillation process contains soluble proteins and amino acids of the original beer feed and provides an excellent source of nutrient for the growth of the yeasts employed in the fermentation process herein.
- the stillage effluent may also contain amounts of sugar oligomers and/or repolymerizates such as to provide a useful medium for the propagation of the second strains of yeast.
- fermentable sugar should be understood as referring to a single fermentable sugar such as glucose (dextrose), fructose, maltose, or sucrose but more commonly will be applicable to these and similar fermentable disaccharides in admixture.
- saccharides derived from carbohydrate polymers other than fermentable disaccharides, which do not readily undergo conversion to ethanol in the presence of a standard brewers' yeast such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
- the accompanying drawing is a diagrammatic flow sheet illustrative of one embodiment of an ethanol fermentation process in accordance with the present invention.
- a sterile aqueous solution of fermentable sugar from any source containing from about 10 to about 40 weight percent sugar, and preferably from about 15 to about 25 weight percent sugar, and containing minor amounts of sugar oligomers and/or repolymerizates, e.g., up to 20 weight percent of the total amount of saccharides present, is taken from vessel 50 which can be a storage vessel or a saccharification vessel in which the sugar is obtained by the hydrolysis of a carbohydrate polymer such as cellulose and/or starch, and is delivered by pump 51 through line 52 to a first temperature regulated, agitated fermentation vessel 53 provided with pH control and means for introducing nutrients and the small amounts of oxygen conventionally employed for maintaining proper yeast metabolism during fermentation.
- the sugar solution contains more than 20 weight percent total saccharide
- the use of stillage when available possesses the two-fold advantage of recycling nitrogen to the fermentation system which would otherwise be lost upon concentration of the ethanol during distillation, and reducing process water consumption by avoiding water build-up in the still bottoms.
- the foregoing solution may also contain significant amounts of partial hydrolysates of carbohydrate polymer (e.g., up to about 40 weight percent of the total carbohydrate present) which can be saccharified to fermentable sugar under the influence of the saccharifying enzyme produced by the fermenting yeast and/or added saccharifying enzyme.
- a pumpable slurry of ethanol-producing yeast organisms free of contaminating organisms is conveyed from yeast storage tank 54 by pump 55 through lines 56 and 57 into fermentation vessel 53.
- the yeast selected for introduction in fermentation vessel 53 is one which provides relatively high rates of conversion of fermentable sugar to ethanol.
- yeasts having certain desired characteristics or functionalities can be selected or isolated employing well-defined microbiological techniques.
- yeast can be introduced into a laboratory or large-scale fermentation vessel (e.g., a chemostat) in which initial ethanol, sugar/sugar oligomer/sugar repolymerizate and nutrient concentrations are noted and predetermined levels of temperature and pH are accurately maintained so as to simulate the conditions of a large scale fermentation unit.
- a laboratory or large-scale fermentation vessel e.g., a chemostat
- initial ethanol, sugar/sugar oligomer/sugar repolymerizate and nutrient concentrations are noted and predetermined levels of temperature and pH are accurately maintained so as to simulate the conditions of a large scale fermentation unit.
- a laboratory or large-scale fermentation vessel e.g., a chemostat
- initial ethanol, sugar/sugar oligomer/sugar repolymerizate and nutrient concentrations are noted and predetermined levels of temperature and pH are accurately maintained so as to simulate the conditions of a large scale fermentation unit.
- the surviving organisms being optimal producers
- the foregoing screening procedure can also be used to evaluate and isolate selected strains of yeast produced by techniques of induced mutation, e.g., those employing ultraviolet radiation, gamma rays, etc., to accelerate the incidence of mutation.
- Other useful techniques for obtaining different strains of yeast for evaluation as ethanol producers under predetermined fermentation conditions include cross breeding of two different strains to yield a third and genetic engineering in which genetic materials from two different strains are recombined to form a completely new genetic "blueprint".
- a yeast which is known to provide especially good conversions of fermentable sugars to ethanol is the common brewers yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
- the live yeast in fermentation vessels 53 and 67 can be present at a level of from about 2 to about 8 weight percent of the fermentation medium (based on dry weight of yeast) and preferably is present at from about 3 to about 6 weight percent. Once continuous fermentation has started and a steady state has been achieved, there will be no need to add more yeast other than those amounts necessary to make up for cells which die.
- the temperature of each fermentation vessel is advantageously regulated at a level which favors maximum ethanol production, i.e., generally from about 68° F. to about 104° F. and preferably from about 86° F. to about 99° F.
- the pH of each fermentation vessels is similarly regulated and can range from about 3.5 to about 5.5 and preferably from about 4.0 to 4.6.
- Dilute ethanol produced in fermentation vessel 53 containing a portion of the yeast cells therein is conveyed by pump 58 through line 59 to yeast separator/recovery unit 60 which separates substantially all of the yeast cells from the aqueous ethanol stream.
- Unit 60 can be a micro-filtration device, centrifuge, etc. Since fermentation is exothermic, a portion of the fermentation medium passing through line 59 is diverted through line 61 into cooler 62 and returned to fermentation vessel 53.
- the yeast cells recovered in unit 60 are conveyed as a pumpable slurry or "cream" containing from about 10 to about 50 weight percent dry yeast and preferably from about 20 to 40 weight percent dry yeast by pump 63 through lines 64 and 57 into fermentation vessel 53.
- the ethanol-containing fermentation medium thus freed of yeast cells is delivered by pump 65 through line 66 into fermentation vessel 67 which is essentially similar to fermentation vessel 53.
- a pumpable slurry of ethanol-producing yeast organisms essentially free of contaminating organisms is conveyed from yeast storage tank 68 by pump 69 through lines 70 and 71 into fermentation vessel 67.
- the yeast selected for introduction in fermentation vessel 67 is one which provides relatively high rates of conversion of sugar oligomers and/or repolymerizates to ethanol.
- Strains of yeast satisfying these requirements can be isolated in the manner described above.
- a yeast which is particularly well suited for this purpose is Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Brewery Kobenhaven #2: Peoria 6 var, ATCC No. 20610.
- the dilute aqueous ethanol (approximately 10 to 12 weight percent ethanol) containing yeast cells is withdrawn from fermentation vessel 67 and conveyed by pump 72 through line 73 to yeast separator/recovery unit 74. A portion of the fermentation medium passing through line 73 is diverted through line 75 into cooler 76 and returned to fermentation vessel 67.
- the yeast cells recovered in unit 74 are conveyed as a pumpable slurry (similar in fluid characteristics to the yeast slurry recovered from unit 60) by pump 77 through lines 78 and 71 to fermentation vessel 67.
- the cell-free ethanol solution from yeast separator/recovery unit 74 is delivered by pump 79 through line 80 directly to an ethanol concentration unit, e.g., anhydrous distillation apparatus, and/or to a storage facility. It is also within the scope of this invention to employ both types of yeast herein in such fermentation vessel with only one yeast separation/recovery unit (receiving the fermentation medium from the last fermentation vessel in the series) being provided. Metabolically evolved carbon dioxide gas containing ethanol is conveyed from each of fermentation vessels 53 and 67 through common line 81 and by means of blower 82 is introduced into the bottom of ethanol absorption unit 83.
- an ethanol concentration unit e.g., anhydrous distillation apparatus
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- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
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- Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Microbiology (AREA)
- General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Biotechnology (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Biochemistry (AREA)
- Bioinformatics & Cheminformatics (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Genetics & Genomics (AREA)
- Preparation Of Compounds By Using Micro-Organisms (AREA)
- Micro-Organisms Or Cultivation Processes Thereof (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims (11)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US06/259,314 US4374198A (en) | 1981-04-30 | 1981-04-30 | Rapid utilization of disaccearides by fermentation |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US06/259,314 US4374198A (en) | 1981-04-30 | 1981-04-30 | Rapid utilization of disaccearides by fermentation |
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US4374198A true US4374198A (en) | 1983-02-15 |
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US06/259,314 Expired - Lifetime US4374198A (en) | 1981-04-30 | 1981-04-30 | Rapid utilization of disaccearides by fermentation |
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Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5045463A (en) * | 1983-12-20 | 1991-09-03 | Cetus Corporation | DNA expression vector and use thereof |
US20100082312A1 (en) * | 2008-09-30 | 2010-04-01 | Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc. | Optimizing product drying through parallel lines of centrifuges and dryer process units |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2419960A (en) * | 1943-11-16 | 1947-05-06 | Publicker Ind Inc | Process of fermenting sugars by mixed yeasts |
US2431004A (en) * | 1944-07-01 | 1947-11-18 | Lyoferd J Wickerham | Method for producing ethyl alcohol |
US4009075A (en) * | 1975-08-22 | 1977-02-22 | Bio-Industries, Inc. | Process for making alcohol from cellulosic material using plural ferments |
US4315987A (en) * | 1980-03-12 | 1982-02-16 | National Distillers & Chemical Corp. | Continuous fermentation process |
-
1981
- 1981-04-30 US US06/259,314 patent/US4374198A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2419960A (en) * | 1943-11-16 | 1947-05-06 | Publicker Ind Inc | Process of fermenting sugars by mixed yeasts |
US2431004A (en) * | 1944-07-01 | 1947-11-18 | Lyoferd J Wickerham | Method for producing ethyl alcohol |
US4009075A (en) * | 1975-08-22 | 1977-02-22 | Bio-Industries, Inc. | Process for making alcohol from cellulosic material using plural ferments |
US4315987A (en) * | 1980-03-12 | 1982-02-16 | National Distillers & Chemical Corp. | Continuous fermentation process |
Non-Patent Citations (3)
Title |
---|
Cysewski et al., Biotechnology and Bioengineering, vol. XX, pp. 1421-1444 (1978). * |
U.K. Patent Application, GB 2,036,074 A, Sep. 27, 1979. * |
White, J., Yeast Technology, John Wiley and Sons Inc., N.Y., 1954, pp. 334-337. * |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5045463A (en) * | 1983-12-20 | 1991-09-03 | Cetus Corporation | DNA expression vector and use thereof |
US20100082312A1 (en) * | 2008-09-30 | 2010-04-01 | Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc. | Optimizing product drying through parallel lines of centrifuges and dryer process units |
US8103385B2 (en) * | 2008-09-30 | 2012-01-24 | Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc. | Optimizing product drying through parallel lines of centrifuges and dryer process units |
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Owner name: NATIONAL DISTILLERS AND CHEMICAL CORPORATION, 99 P Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:MILLER FRANKLYN D.;REEL/FRAME:003881/0700 Effective date: 19810416 Owner name: NATIONAL DISTILLERS AND CHEMICAL CORPORATION, A CO Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:MILLER FRANKLYN D.;REEL/FRAME:003881/0700 Effective date: 19810416 |
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